Thousands of revellers have already visited the iconic Oktoberfest Beer festival, which runs in Munich until October 3. Adventurous travellers know that the Bavarian event isn’t the only place to quaff beer, scoff pretzels and generally have a great time.
Mystery travel company srprs.me has created a bucket list of the top alternative Oktoberfest locations and will arrange a trip to one of the chosen destinations, with the final location revealed just two hours before take-off.
Srprs.me offers surprise breaks from six UK bases and one Irish airport. Travellers simply choose their dates, budget, type of accommodation and select optional extras (if desired) and the company will craft a trip. Travellers receive nothing but a weather forecast and airport arrival time and only discover their location, via the srprs.me app, two hours before departure.
Here are some of the best beer festival destinations this autumn.
Pilsen, Czech Republic – Pilsner Festival, October 4–8
Celebrate October 4, the day the first batch of Pilsner Urquell was brewed in the city of Pilsen in the Czech Republic. Just a short train ride from Prague, celebrations in the Plzeň brewery will shed light on the history of the brewery, while festival tours of its cellars will let pilsner fans taste unfiltered and unpasteurised Pilsner Urquell straight from the oak barrels.
Madrid – October 6–8
The Spanish capital might be better known for sangria, but once a year Madrid transforms into a beer-lover’s haven for Oktoberfest at the WiZink centre in the popular Salamanca district. Guests can enjoy live music, taste Bavarian food including sausages and pork shoulder, and sample the Spaten Oktoberfest Bier by Lowenbraü, one of the six official beers of the Munich Oktoberfest.
Stuttgart – Cannstatter Volksfest, September 23 – October 9
This year, after a two-year hiatus, 175th Cannstatter Volksfest, the most important festival in Baden-Württemberg, will restart in Stuttgart's NeckarPark. The festival is the pride and joy of the region, featuring an opening ceremony parade with historic horse drawn beer wagons, a fairytale carousel, beer tents, traditional bands, family days, and of course local food.
Budapest – September 30 – October 2
Downtown Budapest comes alive every year for its own version of Oktoberfest, with local and international beers including many craft varieties. One of Europe’s most affordable capitals makes the perfect budget-friendly Oktoberfest getaway, with a half-litre of beer costing approximately £1.50.
Berlin – Until October 3
Visitors can experience a taste of traditional celebrations in Germany’s capital during Oktoberfest, while also soaking up the history and culture of Berlin. Highlights include a two-week celebration in Berlin’s Alexanderplatz, plenty of veal sausage, pork knuckles and soft pretzels, and folk dancing.
Copenhagen – September 22–24
Join the fun at the 2,800-person tent at Femøren, the largest Oktoberfest in Denmark. After a day visiting Nyhavn and Tivoli Gardens, visitors to the Danish capital can join the locals for a night of Bavarian beer and a live music.
